The study introduces a computational method to distinguish between antagonizing and criticizing rhetoric in political discourse on Twitter/X. Analyzing over 17 million tweets from German trending topics, it finds that roughly one‑third contain antagonizing rhetoric, which is more prevalent in trending discussions than in general Twitter traffic. Right‑leaning users use antagonizing language more than left‑leaning users, and both forms of rhetoric are amplified within political camps, with certain parties—AfD and the Greens—emerging as primary antagonists.
By Armin Pournaki, Eckehard Olbrich
arXiv:2603.18945v2 Announce Type: replace-cross
Abstract: Computational social science (CSS) has largely operationalized ideology along a single left/right partisan axis when studying online discours...
By Kenneth Joseph, Kim Williams, David Lazer
arXiv:2607. 29334v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Conversational AI developed by geopolitical rivals reaches citizens worldwide, raising concerns that it could sway public opinion or be rejected as foreign propaganda, with consequences for democratic discourse and information sovereignty.
By Ningzhi Liu, Yannic Hinrichs, Jonas R. Kunst
arXiv:2607. 27232v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Large Language Models (LLMs) are increasingly shaping how we consume information and form our worldview.
By Haran Shani-Narkiss, Michael Fire, Oren Tsur
The study examines how political narratives formed and spread on X, Facebook, and Reddit during the 2024 Moldovan presidential election. Using multilingual stance detection, network analysis, and causal inference, it finds distinct cross‑platform differences in positions on European integration, Russia, and the candidates, and shows that amplification and peer exposure significantly reinforce these narratives. This is the first comprehensive analysis of social media discourse for this election, highlighting the role of language, network dynamics, and causal effects in shaping political influence.
By Andrea Piras, Osman Rahmoun, Elena Zheleva
arXiv:2606. 12073v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Generative AI has made fluent prose cheap to produce, breaking the old promise to readers that good writing meant real thinking.
By Jason Miklian, John E. Katsos
The paper investigates how well large language models (LLMs) can handle character attacks—ad hominem arguments—in political debates. By analyzing natural political dialogues and comparing LLM-generated responses to a corpus of U.S. presidential debates, the study finds that most LLMs favor logical defenses and rarely use ethos-based counterattacks. The authors suggest that safety fine‑tuning limits LLMs’ strategic options, preventing them from fully engaging in realistic political discourse.
By Ewelina Gajewska, Katarzyna Budzynska, Jaroslaw Chudziak
The study analyzes four Twitter and Reddit archives to examine how lexical definitions, recorded responses, and participant turnover affect measurements of climate backlash. By applying transparent, non-exclusive lexical rules to all registered files, the authors link frame co-occurrence to source-specific temporal and response models, revealing that renewable‑energy terms co‑occur with cost‑related language on Reddit, while narrower backlash phrases reverse the Paris Agreement contrast. The research shows that returning‑author expression and participant turnover both contribute to increased protest‑language shares around the 2019 global climate strike, and that operational definitions and platform‑specific response fields shape what can be claimed about climate backlash.
whyItMatters":"The findings highlight that how data are defined and processed can significantly alter conclusions about climate backlash, underscoring the need for careful methodological transparency in social media research."
By Wentao Xu
arXiv:2609.14178v1 Announce Type: new
Abstract: The rapid diffusion of hate speech and misinformation on social networks challenges democratic societies, since direct suppression efforts may deepen p...
By Carmel Kronfeld, Sharva Gogawale, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Irad Ben-Gal
arXiv:2609.38256v1 Announce Type: new
Abstract: Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used to answer questions about politically contentious issues, yet evaluations typically treat a model's...
By Olivia Macmillan-Scott, Michael Jacobs, Nils Metternich, Mirco Musolesi
arXiv:2608.21385v1 Announce Type: cross
Abstract: Social media has become a central arena in which armed conflicts are contested, yet the pro-Israel and pro-Palestine communities on Telegram, whose b...
By Michail Zafeiropoulos, Despoina Antonakaki, Sotiris Ioannidis
arXiv:2608.29198v1 Announce Type: new
Abstract: As Large Language Models (LLMs) increasingly encourage users to disclose personal profiles for tailored assistance, measuring their political alignment...
By Li-Ni Fu, Chang-Chih Meng, Chien-Hua Chen, Hen-Hsen Huang, I-Chen Wu